Bringing order where there is chaos?

Last weekend a high-profile conference was held in Chester involving local agencies which will implement the Government's new Anti-social Behaviour Act and a major drive to tackle nuisance youths, beggars, bad neighbours and fly tippers.

Last weekend a high-profile conference was held in Chester involving local agencies which will implement the Government's new Anti-social Behaviour Act and a major drive to tackle nuisance youths, beggars, bad neighbours and fly tippers. Chief reporter DAVID HOLMES met the movers and shakers who aim to work with the community to clean up our neighbourhoods.

OUT-OF-CONTROL youngsters and inconsiderate neighbours make life a misery for law-abiding, peace-loving citizens.

Time and again anti-social behaviour has emerged as the number one issue for residents, whose feelings of security and wellbeing are undermined by those with no respect for others.

And it's because the Government is keen to build partnerships to tackle this scourge that a conference was held at Hoole All Saints Church in Chester as part of a nationwide campaign entitled Together - Tackling Anti-social Behaviour.

The initiative is aimed at people working in the field of anti-social behaviour and the general public. Running in parallel is the implementation of the Anti-social Behaviour Act 2003, which aims to give local agencies the tools to get on with the job.

Home Office minister Hazel Blears, who is responsible for policing and anti-social behaviour strategy, addressed the event, which was hosted by Christine Russell MP and attended by residents' groups, councillors, police officers, firefighters, youth workers, charities and licensees.

Ms Blears told the Chester audience: 'Anti-social behaviour didn't start a year ago, it's been in our lives for a long time. Whether it's gangs intimidating people on the streets, graffiti, fly tipping and all of that.

'It's been around for a long time but it's only in recent months that we've been able to put a name to that as anti-social behaviour. People have breathed a sigh of relief that we have at last realised what's going on.'

She stressed that crime levels had gone down by 25% during the last six years, but surveys had shown people's perceptions were out of step with reality, with two-thirds believing crime had actually gone up.

Ms Blears explained that the 2003 Act gave the police new powers and streamlined existing measures because the original legislation had proved 'quite cumbersome'.

Perhaps the most well-known tool available to practitioners is the Anti-social Behaviour Order (ASBO), which can be employed to restrict the behaviour of individuals. A total of 27 have been imposed on individuals in Chester and Ellesmere Port, including two shoplifting Chester brothers who have been banned from entering the city centre for 10 years.

But the minister said the measure had been applied inconsistently across the country. There were 1,600 across the country, but only one or two orders in London.

She said that as well as punishing bad behaviour the Government was also committed to supporting those who wanted to better themselves.

Ms Blears added: 'The Labour Party cares about people who have not had the opportunities many of us take for granted.'

She said this included funding drug treatment, and gave the example that up to 90% of those begging on the street had a drug addiction.

Ms Blears said she hoped Chester would adopt the Taking a Stand awards scheme being promoted by the Government, which aims to recognise the commitment and bravery of people prepared to stand up for their community. Nominees might have agreed to be a witness to anti-social behaviour and given evidence in court; kept a diary to help frontline workers take action; organised a clean-up of graffiti; or set up a residents' group to reduce noise problems.

Christine Russell welcomed the partnership approach reflected on the day.

She said: 'All of us have a responsibility for tackling loutish behaviour wherever it occurs, and we need to rebuild a sense of community. Today's conference has brought together the most amazing range of people.'

Contributions made at the conference will be minuted and passed on to the Chester Community Safety Partnership, the minister and Number 10 for their consideration.